Spain Deploys Troops After Thousands Swim Across from Morocco

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:17:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Spain enlists armed forces after a mass migrant swim into Ceuta, sparking heightened border security and diplomatic friction with Morocco.

Thousands of migrants swam from Morocco into Spain’s enclave of Ceuta in a chaotic crossing that resulted in at least 15 deaths. Spanish officials claim border controls collapsed, prompting Madrid to dispatch troops to reinforce the Civil Guard. The incident has reignited tensions with Morocco and stirred political debate in Italy over Schengen border policy. Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that migrants cannot be returned to Morocco immediately if they reach land borders. The surge echoes similar events in May 2021, demonstrating persistent migration pressure at Spain’s African borders.

Spain has mobilised troops to reinforce the Civil Guard in Ceuta following a dramatic surge of migrants who swam from Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar.

In a chaotic scene on Thursday, thousands of people dove over concrete embankments to the sea, hoping to slip past the jetty that marks the border. The beach became littered with rubber rings and flippers, and at least 15 people died in the attempt.

Local officials described the border as “in total collapse” and appealed to Madrid for urgent help, citing a recent rise in crossing attempts. The Spanish interior ministry accused human‑trafficking networks of exploiting the situation to “encourage the flow of undocumented migrants.”

Delegation of troops

The ministry announced that armed forces would support the Civil Guard “with any measures necessary to maintain security in the city.” The deployment follows Spain’s Supreme Court ruling that migrants who arrive on Spanish soil cannot be summarily sent back to Morocco.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit Ceuta the following day and has promised rapid restoration of normalcy. Migrant reception‑centres are overwhelmed, and the local government has accused Madrid of slow response.

The outbreak of security measures has also prompted a diplomatic spat with Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni considers suspending the open Schengen border with Spain and has condemned the intrusion as a threat to European security.

Meanwhile, Morocco has used water cannons in nearby Fnideq to deter crossings, and there are reports of clashes at the Beni Ansar point in Melilla, Spain’s second enclave on the coast. The crossing numbers are not yet confirmed, but Spanish media estimate between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered Ceuta on Thursday, a figure not yet verified by the Guardia Civil.

Ceuta and Melilla are the only land borders between the European Union and Africa, and Spain has intensified security measures here in recent years, installing barriers and boosting surveillance through bilateral relations with Morocco. Yet the new wave of migrants highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining border control while ensuring humane treatment of those seeking refuge.